The aftermath of those preceding years of austerity was felt long after the conclusion of the Second World War, although by the time of the fifties a semblance of normality was well in evidence with a wave of new optimism tempered by memories of harsh times and hardship. These attitudes and trends were echoed when it came to fashion and within the home where vibrancy became evident within the kitchen, but where minimalism was still the norm within the bedroom. Where the kitchen might be the centre of family life, the bedroom was regarded as a place of relaxation and privacy with as little distraction or frippery as possible, a functional, comfortable, yet minimalistic décor approach being the key.

Kitchen comforts and a new focus on cooking and home entertaining meant, that for the majority of women through the 1950s, the kitchen was the centre of family life with new electric appliances and technology bringing new opportunities and the possibility for a wave of new cuisine. Away from these and other family and entertaining areas, the bedroom was an area in which to unwind away from the public gaze and focussed on function and comfort with perhaps a simple platform divan bed or basically styled wooden bed providing a sleeping area with comfy bedding and area rugs for a 50s contemporary feel. Night tables, a closet, bureau and vanity table were staple ingredients of the 1950s bedroom, with anything more being comfort designed around these elements.

Recreate the look with an original or reproduction wooden bedstead in oak or cherry finish or opt for a simple wooden headboard for a more minimalist feel. Simple traditionally styled iron beds are also relevant to the period, possibly as a legacy of earlier 20^th century eras, in darker colours or brass bedstead designs, once again a relic from earlier pre-war days. Bedside tables furnished with a clock and little else would also have predominated and vanity tables with an integral mirror or wall mounted version, for functional “lady of the house” duties.

Colours were diverse, but a popular colour palette was pastels, with blues, pinks, greens and yellows, all in evidence. Many kitchen designs would have favoured a more vibrant approach, but the cool and calming effect of pastels within the bedroom was appropriate for the time offering a pleasing backdrop to functional, simply styled furnishings and accessories. For a little extra verve include hints of gold and chrome, burgeoning materials of the time with echoes of Hollywood and perhaps a touch of Art Deco from Americas east and west coast.

Softer room elements such as fabrics and floor coverings saw a predominance of chenille for bedspreads; a legacy of 1930s which brought an element of comfort to the bedroom and a homely feel to basic bed designs, with fitted carpeting as the favoured floor covering. Newer home construction usually favoured a shag rug, whereas older home designs utilised a larger area rug around the bed. In juxtaposition to these softer materials, ceramic was becoming popular for bedside and floor lamps with chrome making big inroads in the form of picture frames, smaller display tables or the ubiquitous 1950s signature starburst clock.

Tags: Wood Beds, Wooden Beds, Wooden Bedsteads

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